The third race that I am going to introduce is none other than the elves, and among their distinct races, the High Elves. High Elves which are considered being the most tolerable of the elves. Be that as it may, they are still generally arrogant and condescending towards humans and dwarves.
However, some of their members have proven capable of putting aside eons old prejudices and willing to look into the heart of men and dwarf.
A trait that is not to be underestimated. Especially not if you understand that most elves you will come to meet in your lifetime are older than the very country you likely own allegiance to. Of course, I do not say that every human kingdom is short-lived, but we all know that such a tendency occurs more often than not.
High elf lifespan can naturally reach the absurd one-thousand-five-hundred years. The reason for this is that their bodies are naturally rich in mana, expanding their lifespan. Those high elves that are magically talented often become trained mages even further expanding their lifetime.
When dealing with such beings as high elves, and generally all elves, some more than others. You have to understand that no matter the deceptively young outward appearance, your communication partner is most likely ten to twenty times of your age.
To make this strange fact properly sink in. I will tell you that elven cultures across the lands of Rixa won’t consider their children adults until they reach one hundred years. Furthermore, as elven children are considered extremely precious to their kind, even young adults aren’t allowed to walk freely. They are not allowed to leave elven territories, at least not without escort until they reach two or three hundred years.
Young elven men will go through extensive training in battle and will pick up an occupation chosen by themselves. Which they will attempt to master over the centuries of their lives. In peace times they will live off from the earning of this occupation.
Only after reaching two hundred years of age will they be considered proper adults and allowed the freedom to move on their own.
In the case of young adult women, the restriction is even stricter. Young women are not allowed to roam freely outside of elven territories until they reach three hundred years and go through basic self defence training. Which is otherwise not mandatory for high elven maidens.
High elven women are considered being the most beautiful in all races. Their tall, slender frame is indeed aesthetically pleasing… that much, I will admit.
This fact is also the reason for such restrictions. There had been many attempts to kidnap young high elfs in the past. More than a few of such events were successful, resulting in centuries old grievances and hatred between certain races.
Aside from wood elves, who do not use such gender-based separations, and made combat training mandatory for women as well. Practically treating their women as men. A presumptuous idea if I have ever heard one.
However, what I wanted to say is that because of these restrictions, you will be highly unlikely to ever run into an elfmaid on their own outside of elven kingdoms, which’s are considered being the safest places on Rixa.
Regarding the training of young adult women in high elven society.
Women similarly to men can choose a desired occupation on their own, while in place of battle training they receive training in childcare, sewing, and any type of household chore that anybody could possibly think of. Which often includes the use of several musical instruments and whatever else they fancy.
It is also important to note that while high elves do not demand their women to fight for their countries; it is far from being forbidden for them to do so.
If a woman decides that she wished to learn the art of war, they will receive the same rigorous training as any men would. If they prove their prowess, they will be allowed to roam freely after they reach the age of two hundred, same as men.
I do not understand the need for such specifications and special exceptions from perfectly reasonable rules. Alas, high elven laws are filled with such finicky and complicated twists.
Look at me, I have been talking so long and were yet to explain the basics of the race.
High elves are tall. The tallest of the elven races. On average, high elven men reach the height of 180 cm, while women tend to reach 170 cm. However, it is not unusual for accomplished warriors to reach the astonishing height of two meters.
Aside from their height and high aptitude for magic. High elves have a strange skin which could be best described as white with a none intrusive tinge of golden radiance. The intensity of this golden hue in a high elf can be a direct indicator of the person’s magical capability. However, this characteristic has been long since perceived as a weak spot and since then high elves tend to hide the true strength of their radiance with specifically designed illusion magic.
For a high elf to show his or her natural radiance to an outsider is the utmost show of trust and respect.
Regarding the height of high elven warriors. It has been speculated that, because of this racial feature, high elves, while undoubtedly very talented in magic, still prefer the art of physical warfare. They use their magical abilities to boost their body’s already highly trained abilities and skills through magical means. One of the most famous and terrifying example of such a combination of magic and mundane warfare is the creation of the terrifying magically trained elite warriors.
Imagine an army of soldiers with supernatural reflexes, battle experiences that could fill out several of your lifetime, while also capable of infusing their weapons with magical energies. They are rumored to blink out of existence, dodging out of the path of incoming weapons. Only to reappear behind you with a burning blade ready to strike you down.
The last one being an utter nonsense based on my opinion…
Regardless, we are lucky that such thorough training takes more than a few centuries. There are only about a hundred of such brazen warriors in the entire high elven kingdom, at least officially. They are serving as the elite guard of the High Elven Royal Family.
Extract from the book titled “The Intelligent Races of Rixa” written by human scholar Viscanu Winfred.
~oOo~
Suddenly, one of the dwarfs, more specifically the one sitting closer to us, slapped his thigh as if he had just remembered something.
“Ah! So you must be the lass Commander Balgrun told us about. Now I remember! I didn’t realize that you were an elf until now. You must have just arrived back from the expedition. I heard you even received a title straight from the prince, Fiend Slayer. If I remember correctly.”
Oh yeah, there was that too. I completely forgot about that one. Still, I nodded, verifying his statement.
“It’s true then. Well done, lass. I also heard you caused quite a meat grinder on the battlefield with that golem of yours. Damn, I would have loved to see it. I am not surprised the king called you back after a performance like that.”
“I wager there will be both titles and rewards waiting for you in the capital.” — He winked at me, then turned back to the game, preparing to roll the dice once again.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
After he stopped speaking, the cart fell into a strained silence. This time, it lasted considerably longer. I could feel the piercing glare of Camilla practically burrowing into my side. It was obvious that she wanted to ask me a hundred and one questions, but was too intimidated and ashamed to do so for whatever reason.
It must have something to do with her recent realisation that I was an elf. Well, that and the story that the dwarf dropped. There might be some sort of prejudice or mayhap a misunderstanding that went over my head.
Therefore, I decided to turn back to the girl and nudge her out of her newfound shell. — “You don’t have to be so stiff, Camilla… I didn’t mind your previous shenanigans by the slightest. You seem like a kind-hearted young lady, one that I would love to get acquainted with.”
Hearing my words, she deflated even further. — “Ugh… calling it like that only makes it worse…” — She whispered to herself, clearly not intending for me to hear it, but my elven ears have picked it up just the same.
As if realizing just that, her eyes grow wider once again, throwing a conscious glance at me.
I smiled at her softly, trying to act clueless to calm her down.
It failed spectacularly. That made her groan out-loud. — “Argh! Curse it! I already made a fool out of myself. Might as well dig as deep as I can get…” — Her previously pale features were getting a rosy tint now out of embarrassment.
“It’s just… it’s the first time I meet with an elven mage. I heard that they are the best spell casters in the world, and I always wanted to get to know one.”
The human man sitting on my other side sighed exasperatedly, saying in a dead-pan tone. — “What she means by that is, that she will haunt you until you agree to show her some magical tricks. She is not an actual mage, barely an initiate, who picked up a few tricks through terrorizing any spellcaster that was unfortunate enough to cross her path. She even earned herself a nasty nickname as the Le-…”
Camilla jumped to her feet, pointing an accusatory finger at the man. — “Langley, if you speak one more word, I am going to make you regret it!”
The man, who I now know was called Langley, seemed to consider the threat for a few seconds. Eventually, he decided to drop the subject, clearly deeming it not worth the trouble, and turned back to his game.
Camilla slowly set back down, turning back to me and said. — “Ugh… so sorry about it if I told anything stupid previously, or that I have assumed you to be a human. I didn’t mean to annoy you or anything like that…”
I blinked at the strange apology. Still, I guess it must be quite a social mistake in this world to misinterpret someone’s race. Not that I particularly care about that.
“Don’t mind it, it was an honest mistake anybody could have done it, and who would expect an elf this deep in the deep roads, anyway?” — I smiled at her.
Camilla straightened herself out a bit. — “Right? I mean…” — Cough! — “Right! Exactly as you say, it was an honest mistake. Allow me to make up for it and introduce us properly this time around.”
“I am Camilla. As you already know, the lanky one with the blond hair is called Langley. Regarding our dwarven friends, the one with the shorter beard is called Thurmir Hardboot, and the other is Murmir Hardboot. Yes, they are brothers before you ask.”
I nodded, taking a closer look at the trio.
Langley had a pale blonde hair, similarly pale skin tone as Camilla. He was indeed tall, as I already mentioned, at least above 180 cm when standing up and he had a pair of grayish blue eyes.
Meanwhile, the dwarfs had the basic dwarven characteristics, with brown hair and facial hair paired with similarly brown eyes. It was the most common among dwarven populace.
After I took in the appearances of the people, I will probably spend the rest of my journey with. I shook their hands one by one, once again introducing myself.
“It is nice to make your acquaintance. My name is Selora, but you can call me Lora if that is more to your liking.” — I stated once more with a genuine smile. I was a bit excited to meet with humans so unexpectedly.
I was curious about them. How would they act here compared to the ones I know back on Earth? Obviously, they wouldn’t know about modern things, like computers and television…
My right hand was grasped between the hands of Camilla, pulling my attention back to her.
“It’s Lora then! I can’t believe that you actually received a title from a prince! You look so young, and already getting such honours… What did you say? How old were you again?”
This time, I was more conscious about my answer. I clearly remember how annoying it was to be treated as a child by all the dwarfs. I do not know much about elven culture, but the first hundred years seem to be the general age from which you are considered an adult.
Based on that logic, I formed my present answer.
“Oh, I am around a hundred and ten.” — I stated firmly. My palm sweating a bit as it was currently captured in Camilla’s hands.
This incidentally caused me to feel Camilla’s entire body becoming very stiff at the mention of my age.
I started to feel anxious now. Did she realize that I was lying?
I sensed that my response caused quite a stir in the cabin. Once again, all the eyes were focused on me.
“Ugh…” — I grunted, starting to get fed up with the awkward silence. They must have some sort of magical ability to sense deceit.
I thought and said with a gradually growing discomfort. — “… F-fine… you caught me, that was a lie… I am a bit younger than that…“ — There is no way in hell they will get me to admit that I was younger than a hundred, though. That’s just not happening.
“WHAAAT?!” — A loud shriek was elicited into my right ear, sending cold shivers up and down my spine. I winced in pain, attempting to cover my ears, alas Camilla didn’t seem to want to let go of my hand.
She was completely out of it, staring at me with those eerily wide, dark green eyes.
“YOU ARE PRACTICALLY A CHILD!” — The woman exclaimed. — “Not to mention being in the dwarven army… how are you outside of the elven realms? This is huge!”
Being unable to cover my right ear, which was suffering the brunt of Camilla’s outburst, I instead attempted to lean away from her as far as my captured hand allowed.
Luckily, Camilla seemed to realize that I was being overwhelmed with the intensity of her reaction and promptly let go of my hand.
Alas, I did not expect her to let me go at that moment. I was still focused on desperately trying to pull away from her. This unfortunate combination of events caused me to crash sideways into the small table in the middle of the compartment.
The table, that in all honesty, was more like a chair hosting the men’s game, was knocked over instantly, having no chance to stand against my weight as I crashed into it from the side. Sending the dices and coins flying all over the place in a chaotic manner.
I heard curses and surprised shouts rousing around me while I slowly peeled myself off the wooden floor.
I blinked sporadically, unable to see much as the darkness returned to the room. Confused by the loud arguments happening around me, I somewhat remembered that there was a candle placed on the table, serving as the sole light source in the room.
I massaged my side where I hit the table, a small hiss leaving my mouth, finding the quickly forming bruise.
I listened into the chaotic argument for a second.
“THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU FOOL!” — Shouted Langley. I winced. For a second, I thought that he was shouting at me, but it quickly became obvious that that was not the case.
As a different voice appeared protesting to the accusations.
“Eh!? It’s n-not my fault! It was but an accident!” — Sounded the panicking voice of Camilla attempting to defend herself, and failing miserably, which based on her meek tone she herself realised as well.
“What’s not yer fault, lass? You just catapulted her into the table! And I was on a winning streak!” — Sounded the flabbergasted voice of one of the dwarfs. If I had to guess, then it belonged to Thurmir.
“How would I know that she was trying to jump up?” — Camilla spoke, panic grasping at her mind.
“Of course she would try to jump up. You were literally screaming her head off! Idiot!” — Langley’s voice cut through the room once again.
“What? I wasn’t that loud though…”
“She is a damn elf, Camilla. I would wager it was loud enough for her!” — Sounded Murmir’s voice at last.
Camilla sniffed, unable to refute any of those remarks… — “W-well… I-I am sorry… Is s-she alright, at least?”
To which the room once again descended into a suffocating silence. As everybody just remembered about my presence.
I sighed. Sitting up on the floor, sending a few droplets of mana into my staff. Thin streaks of silver light glowed through the compartment.
I took in the squinting and worried gazes of the surrounding people, and couldn’t help but smile in amusement.
“Calm down already… It’s not like I died or anything… I have been hit by worse than a chair. True… it might have hurt my image a bit…” — I added, as a wisp of a blush started to color my cheeks.
That seemed to jolt the men out of their daydream, and I was quickly helped to my feet, then practically forced to sit down on the opposite side from Camilla.
She wanted to come over, but was immediately stopped as she received a meaningful stare from the dwarf brothers.
I massaged my side subconsciously while watching the men as they hastily gathered the scattered coins and dices.
Seeing their obvious anxiety, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurd scenario.
Hearing my soft giggles in the corner of the room at first surprised the others, but they quickly and readily joined in the blossoming laughter.
Without our notice, the previous tension has dissolved and eventually left the room.